How Many Watts Does a Hair Dryer Use (With Calculator)
The power consumption of a hair dryer is a major point of concern from both energy and performance points of view. It affects the results, performance, running cost, and environmental impact.
The power consumption of hair dryers ranges from 500w to 2200w, where 500w is the consumption of compact dryers and 2200w is the electricity consumption of high-end professional hair dryers.
The average, however, lies between 1200-1800w. To keep a check on the power consumption of this useful device, one needs to know how to calculate the power consumption of a hair dryer. As different models have different power consumption ratings: the method below can be used to calculate the power consumption of various hair dryer models.
Hair Dryer Power Consumption Calculator
When it comes to hair dryers, the higher the wattage, the more power the hair dryer will have. Generally speaking, a hair dryer with a higher wattage will be able to give you faster drying times and better results. However, make sure that you are aware of your own personal needs and limitations when purchasing a hair dryer – not all high-wattage models are suitable for everyone.
To find out how many units your hair dryer uses each day, month, and year, you can measure the wattage and enter it into this hair dryer energy use calculator to easily calculate the power consumption of the hair dryer.
How to calculate the power consumption of a Hair Dryer
To calculate the power consumption of a hair dryer, one needs to know a few things, power rating, per unit kwh cost (in the specific region), and for how long the hair dryer runs in a day.
The power rating can be found on the back label of the hair dryer, on the brand’s website, or by using a watt-meter. Once all of these parameters have been known, finding the power consumption is a piece of cake. All it requires is the formula below and some calculations.
Kwh (Power Consumption) = Hair Dryer Watts x Times (Hrs) / 1000
Per hour consumption in kwh:
{(power rating in watts) / 1000} x No. of operational hours
Example:
For a 1200w hair dryer running for an hour; the total power consumption would be {(1200)/1000}x 1 = 1.2 kwh
Per day consumption in kwh:
(power consumption per hour) x total operational hours in a day
Per month consumption in kwh:
(power consumption per day) x 30
Per year consumption in kwh
(power consumption per month) x 12
Multiplying these power consumptions with the per unit kwh cost will give the total cost of electricity used by that hair dryer for a specific period. So, the final formula will be
Total electricity cost = [{(power rating in watts)/ 1000} x total no. of operational hours used in the desired period] x per unit kwh cost.
Hair dryer parts that consume the most energy are:
Firstly, you need to know which two components of the hair dryer consume the most energy. The main component in the hair dryer responsible for power consumption is the heating Spring element. This heating element is generally made up of nichrome, and it heats the air coming out of the hair dryer.
The other power consumer is the fan that blows air out. The power consumed depends on the wattage rating, operating hours, and settings.
How much power does the Hair Dryer use?
A compact hair dryer of 500w will use less power than a 2200w professional hair dryer. Similarly, running a hair dryer on high-heat settings will consume more power than running it on low-heat settings.
Apart from these obvious parameters, the modal of hair dryers also makes a significant difference: the new energy-efficient dryers consume less power without compromising efficiency.
How much power a hair dryer consumes is a subjective question; however, a simple answer can be given.
Since most hair dryers out there have a wattage rating of 1800w; so, the power consumed by them in an hour would be around 1.8kwh. To put this in perspective: a standard hair dryer running for an hour consumes electricity almost equal to a standard T.V. running for 40 hours.
However, hair dryers, unlike other electric appliances, are not used for long intervals of time, so their overall power consumption is not as much as it seems.
What is the average power consumption of a hair dryer?
The average power consumption for the majority of the hair dryers in the market, as mentioned earlier, is about 1.8kwh on high-heat settings. However, on the medium and lower heat setting, the average power consumption is 0.98kwh and o.8kwh, respectively. It is pertinent to note here that this average may vary depending upon the category of the hair dryer.
For example, the professional and compact categories have different average values. Since the compact ones have a maximum range of 500-800w, their average power consumption will be very low.
At the same time, the average power consumption of professional hair dryers will be very high.
1200w vs. 2200w hair dryer: Which one is Good
Should one buy a 1200w hair dryer or a 2200w hair dryer? To answer this question, one needs to identify the purpose for which the hair dryer is going to be used. The 2200w hair dryer is best suited for professionals, as it can cater to the different requirements of different clients.
However, for home use, the 1200w is the go-to choice for most people, as it consumes less power than the 2200w and gets the job done efficiently. One important aspect to consider here is that high-power hair dryers will have a longer life because they will not be used at their full capacity as often as low-power hair dryers.
For example, a 1200w hair dryer will be running at its full capacity and will give the same results as a 2200w hair dryer running at half of its capacity. This will increase the life span of the 2200w hairdryer.
However, if one does not use the dryer rigorously, the 1200w will be as good as 2200w. It all comes down to how the hair dryer is going to be used.
Brands and Their Hair Dryer Power Consumption:
Note: I calculate these devices’ power consumption based on their wattage.
| Hair Dryer name | Wattage | Energy Use Per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer | 1,600 watt | 1.6 kwh/units |
| GHD Helios Professional | 1,875 watt | 1.88 kwh/units |
| Panasonic EH-NA65 | 2,000 watt | 2 kwh/units |
| Revlon Infrared, Revlon Turbo | 1,875 watt | 1.88 kwh/units |
| Conair Double Ceramic | 1875 Watt | 1.88 kwh/units |
Tips for saving energy when using a hair dryer
There is no denying the fact that hair dryers consume a lot of power; however, there are some tips that can reduce this power consumption:
Using the hair dryer at low-heat settings:
Since most of the power is consumed by the heating element, reducing the heat levels will significantly reduce the power consumption. Some dryers come with the cool-dry option, which helps significantly in reducing power consumption.
Using high-speed setting:
Since the goal is to reduce the operational hours of the hair dryer, using high-speeded air flow can help in this regard. High-speed air requires less energy than hot air, and it dries hair faster. So, using such a setting can reduce the dry time, which will reduce the net operational hours, hence, low power consumption.
Upgrading to an efficient model:
Newer models of hair dryers use the latest technology available and are more efficient. They use less power but give the same or even better results. Their multiple setting options, which one can use according to his needs, prevent the unnecessary use of power.
Maintenance:
Dust, debris, and hair build-up reduce the airflow and, ultimately, the efficiency of the hair dryer. Cleaning the device after some time is a good idea to increase the airflow of the device. This increased and unrestricted airflow dries hair quicker, hence, reducing the overall operational hours.
Pre-dry hairs:
One of the most significant tips to reduce power consumption is the most basic one –to reduce the usage of a hair dryer. Pre-drying hairs, either by air-drying or towel-drying, can help reduce the running time of a hair dryer.
FAQS:
What is the power consumption of a hair dryer?
Why do hair dryers use so much power?
As a lot of electric energy is required to overcome the resistance of the heating element, a lot of heat is produced, and that heats the air coming out of the hair dryer. High-power hair dryers have heating elements of even high resistance; that is why they consume more power. Similarly, the temperature setting of hair dryers also affects power consumption: a high-temperature setting demands high heat. This results in high consumption of power. This is why hair dryers use so much power; however, the net usage is not as much as it seems because they are used for a very short interval of time.
Final Words:
All in all, there is no denying the fact that hair dryers consume a significant amount of power, and their excess usage can increase electricity bills. However, one can easily calculate the power consumption of the hair dryer by multiplying the kwh rating with the number of operational hours.
In this way, a check can be maintained on the electricity consumption of the device. Selecting the right hair dryer is also very important; for domestic use, one does not need a 2200w hair dryer; when a 1200w can do the job well.
To reduce power consumption, one can follow simple tips like using the hair dryer at low-heat and high-speed settings, upgrading to newer models, regular maintenance of the device, and pre-drying hairs to reduce the operational time of the hair dryer.
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